Bible Translations

There are a multitude of Bible translations out there.  I've heard that the only "right" one is the King James Version.  I've heard that the King James is so full of errors that it should never be consulted.  I've heard that the NIV is full of errors and contradictions.  I've heard that some translations are just a mockery of the original Hebrew and Greek.

Have you ever noticed that every person describes an event differently?  Even if every person sees the event at the same time, each of them have a different view of the event.  Certain facts can be determined from eyewitness accounts but each account has differences.  Have you also noticed that every person describes a photograph differently?

Every person brings a unique and individual perspective to life.  My experiences and life are different from yours.  I know that.  You know that.  It's an awesome thing.  How I translate or communicate my experience to you may not be the same as how you receive it.  If I use the word "peace" to describe the absence of conflict but you use the word to describe my conforming to your thinking, we are NOT communicating.  The only way we can communicate is if we have a standard by which to judge.  We have to both agree to use the same definition of a word before communication is a success.

Which leads me back to Bible translations.  There is a truth by which all translations are judged, God Himself.    I enjoy using the King James Version because it has high expectations.  Yes, you must understand formal English if you use the King James.  It has the attitude of grandeur, of aristocracy, of formalness.  But, I often compare translations.  The Common English Version is an informal version.  It is like meeting God at the kitchen table instead of the banquet hall.

All modern English translations rely on translations of translations and copies.  The meanings of our words have changed.  Some words have been lost and are no longer used.  Others have been added to describe changes in society, science, and technology. Can you image using LOL in a Bible translation?  Would the Apostle Paul use technology terms instead of athletic terms in his letter to the Romans?

We did not live at the time the Bible was written.  Phrases and terms had meaning at the time that we don't use or see now.  And, the next translator thinks his version is better than any previous version.  It is up to us to choose a version and use it.  Key- USE IT.  God's word is alive.  It has the ability to meet the needs of people today even though it was written long ago.  God satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.  He saves souls out of trouble and distress.  He brings them out of darkness.  So, I give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures for ever.  His love never fails. (Psalm 107)

(Father God, I praise your name that your word does not return void.  Every translation has some human error in it.  Yet, you make yourself know through it.  Thank you.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.)

Direction

So, I've been reminded that this blog is not really about me.  It is about God in my life.  Therefore, I will continue to blog with perhaps a bit more direction.  Each Monday will be a "Bumpy Monday".  These will be previous posts.  Tuesday through Thursday will be new entries.  Friday will be new entries with one of the following topics:  Penguins, Memoirs, or God Moments.  Saturday or Sunday posts will be rare and by the leading of the Spirit only.

Next, I've got to publicize the blog a bit more.  Please refer my blog to your friends.  Tell me about your blog.  I'll read and comment.

(Father God, thank you for being a part of my life.  I praise your name because you are.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Bumpy Monday - Pack Rat Traits (3/9/08)

On occasion, I loose sight of the penguin traits that I'd like to emulate and take on the incredible traits of a pack rat. Okay, often I do. I have many many boxes of children's school papers that I have kept. And, I've been culling the ones that have come home since 6th grade. So, I have all these boxes of papers in the attic that I should go through.

I also have just about every scrap paper on which I've written a reference to a verse. Now, some of them have other statements besides the verse address. But, many do not. Some of them are references from a sermon or lesson. I have no idea what that verse meant to me at the time I wrote it down. AUGH! It was a shiny button or trinket that caught my eye at the time. I carried it off to my nest and put it with the rest of the glittering objects.

I don't know if pack rats go back through their treasure but God calls me to do such a thing. He repeatedly tells me to remember His mighty works, to remember who He is, to remember what He has done for me. Today, I remember that He wrote my name in the book of life. He has removed my sin and remembers it no more. He has transformed my deceitful heart and given me a heart of life. God is awesome.

(Lord, thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for remembering my sin no more. Thank you for the only way to know you. Thank you for the wonderful treasure You give me through Your word. Thank you for the grace and mercy that You personally extended to me. Thank you also for the judgement. Thank you for the rules that keep me safe. Forgive me when I so bluntly ignore them. Help me to accept the necessary chastisement. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.)

Encouragement - Where does it come from?

Encouragement.  Where does it come from for you?  Where do you get that extra charge to keep going?  In what form does it present itself?  Do you need verbal encouragement or will a simple smile keep you going?  Does it matter if it's someone close to you or a complete stranger that shares it?  When do you need it the most? Do you happen to fail to notice it if it is given during good times?

I started writing this blog four years ago. (http://dailyswim.blogspot.com/2007/08/welcome-to-daily-swim.html) Sometimes it was easy to write on a regular basis.  Sometimes living life distracted me away.  I have no idea how many people read it or if anyone gets anything out of it.  I've prayed that someone would get a blessing from reading it and that it would honor God for His purpose.

Is it time to stop?  Or, is it time to be more vocal about it's existence?  I need some encouragement here.

(Father God, I leave this blog in your hands.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)

Surround Sound

This morning I started the day by lying in bed listening to the thunder roll.  How beautiful the sound that starts way in the distance, rolls right over your head and across the horizon.  Now I sit here listening to the raindrops hit the roof and splash to the ground.  I am truly surrounded by this phenomenon known as a storm.  Have you ever considered just how amazing storms are?  How incredibly powerful lightening is?  How intense thunder happens to be?  How magnificent water is?  And, just how impressive the whole cycle is?

I am  humbled by the power of a lightening strike.  Last year I heard a woman speak who survived but lost her family to a lightening strike.  (You can check out her story at http://www.anitakscott.com.)  It's amazing.

I am so in awe of thunder.  It's the sound of the lightening.  It rumbles across the sky for miles.  I can't even see a mile in the distance.  I can barely see my computer screen sometimes.   (I guess I better go find my glasses.  After all, they do help. Ahh, that's better.)   I don't believe my kids can hear me yelling a mile away.  Mostly they aren't able to hear from the other room.  Hmm.

The rain can be gentle or pelting.  It can come down all at once and result in a flood strong enough to move a house.  It can fall over a long period of time and result in the grass growing right before your eyes.   Generally, though, it seems to fall somewhere in the middle.  It might be cold.  It might be warm.

Now, let's consider the wind.  Do you see where it comes from?  Do you see where it starts?  Do you know where it ends?  Do you know how far it has traveled?  How did it gain its strength?  It too may be soft and gentle or pelting and strong.  It is remarkable.

Today I am absorbed by the storm.  It's more than just surround sound, it's surround sight, surround feel, surround smell and surround sound all rolled up into an experience. If I weren't such a chump, I'd be out tasting the storm also.

(Father God, thank you for storms.  Thank you for the reminder of just how incredible you are.  Thank you that you hold the storms under your feet.  You are above and beyond everything the storm is.  I pray that I can be surrounded by your sound, sight, feel, taste, and smell.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Genealogy

I've been tramping through piles of left behind papers.  I can't find all the information that I want to find.  Ugh, it's so frustrating.

There are some wonderful nuggets of information in these papers like great-grandma's marriage certificate.  Yet, there is nothing about Jephtha's personality.  How do I write about a young man that lived only 25 years?  How can I describe to you a young man that died when my mother was only a year old?  My grandmother, Jephtha's sister, has been gone for more than four years now.  Why didn't I pay more attention when she talked about her brother?  Why didn't I ask for more information while she was still here to provide it?

So, what should I do?  Should I continue this search on Jephtha's history or should I spend my time talking with the living to get their memories?  There is so much that I've lost because I was too busy with myself.  So what if the stories I hear are not specifically about Jephtha?  If I spend a few days with a World War II veteran, the stories would still be appropriate, right?

(Father God, direct me.  Place on my heart the direction that you would have for me.  Light my passion for what you have created me.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Facebook Destroys Relationships

Recently our local news did a story on "Facebook Destroys Relationships."  It was all about how spouses were cheating using Facebook.  Every time I heard the promo for the story, I just wanted to scream.  In fact, I did find myself talking to the TV every single time.

Facebook doesn't destroy relationships.  People do.  People wound, maim, attack, pursue, frustrate, and kill relationships.  It's the people involved in the relationship that destroy it.  We were doing it without Facebook for many years.  I'm pretty sure we will keep on doing it even if Facebook goes away.

Proverbs 23:7 tell us, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you."  Relationships are destroyed by a heart that thinks it can find something better somewhere else.  Relationships are destroyed by hearts that are unwilling to forgive.  Relationships are destroyed by hearts that are bitter and critical.  Relationships are destroyed by hearts that are not with the one they've married.  Relationships are destroyed by a heart that has placed higher importance on something or someone else.

If there are 95 things that you love about your spouse and 5 things that bug you, you've got a wonderful thing. Don't dwell on those 5 things, think on those things that are lovely, pure, right, just, honest, good.  When your heart and mind are thinking on the good things, the bad things fade into the background where they belong.  That does NOT mean that criminal offenses should be overlooked.  That means it's not important if she leaves the cap off the toothpaste.  It means that it's not important if he leaves his socks in the living room.  Don't quibble over the small stuff.

(Father God, help us to place you first in our lives so that other things may also be placed in the right order.  Thank you for the relationships you give us.  Help us to value and treasure those relationships.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)